Bowling machine cushion mount and actuator mechanism



United States Patent Inventor Ronald A. Lenhart 8462 W. 24th Ave., Lakewood, Colo. 80215 Appl. No. 627,803 Filed April 3, 1967 Continuation-impart oi Ser. No. 413,185, Nov. 23, 1964, Patent No. 3,319,959 Patented Dec. 8, 1970 BOWLING MACHINE CUSHION MOUNT AND ACTUATOR MECHANISM 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 273/43, 27 3/5 3 Int. Cl. A6311 5/00 Field olSearch 273/53, 43,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,436,679 11/1922 Power 74/582X 2,306,955 12/1942 Karbusky 273/47 3,319,959 5/1967 Lenhart..... 273/53X 2,946,591 7/1960 Huck et al. 273/43 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Attorney-C. B. Messenger ABSTRACT: A mechanism for use on automatic pin spotting bowling machines inclusive of a dashpot cylinder connected to a pit cushion to absorb the impact forces of bowling balls and a rnultielement and telescoping actuator rod connected to the pit cushion for transmitting an initial ball impact force as a control signal to initiate cyclic operation of the machine with the actuator rod being changeable in length to compensate for alternate positionings of the pit cushion. A pit cushion positioning unit having a resilient catch mechanism is provided to limit pivotal movements of the pit cushion.

PATENTEU nu: a 19m SHEET 1 UF 2 l/Vl/ENTOI? RONALD A. LENHART ATTORNFY DEC 8"970 l/VVENTOR RONALD ALENHART BOWLING MACHINE CUSHION MOUNT AND ACTUATOR MECHANISM The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 413,185 filed Nov. 23, 1964, and now US. Pat. No. 3,319,959 by the present inventor.

As in the previous application, the present invention relates to a pit cushion mounting and actuator system for automatic bowling machines. Specifically, the invention provides a mechanism that may be used .with a present type of automatic pin setting machine in order to better absorb ball impact forces directed against the pit cushion and, further, to provide an alternate machine actuating mechanism that will be triggered either by impact engagements or by the mere touching of the ball and cushion. The present mechanism is presented as a modification specifically for Brunswick A type pin setting machines and is designed to minimize breakage of the pit cushion arms through provision of means for pivotally mounting the pit cushion with respect to such arms.

While the main object oftheinvention is to provide an improvement in'the described machines, it is a further specific object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for the absorption of ball impact forces in bowling machine construction' Another object of the invention is to provide a pivotally mounted pit cushion, the swinging movement of which is resisted by a dashpot cylinder which will absorb impact shocks but will further permit ordinary movement of the pit cushion as required. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved actuator mechanism which will serve to cycle the machine when a ball has been received against the pit cushion.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an actuator mechanism that will be efficiently energized by severe impact shocks directed against the pit cushion or by the mere touching of a ballthat has stopped in the pit and is moved against the pit cushion by action of the pit shaker mechanism ofthe machine. 7

A further object of the' invention is to provide a modification kit for existing machines that may be economically installed to provide improved operating results.

In addition to the foregoing objectives, it is a further objective of the present invention to provide a combined mechanism which will tend to speed the return of bowled balls to the bowling participants.

Another'object of the invention is to provide an improved machine triggering mechanism incorporating a spring loaded connecting rod.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pit cushion positioning unit which tends to hold the pit cushion in place while permitting pivotal movement thereof when the ball is impacted thereagainst or when the pit cushion is moved past otherwise interfering mechanisms.

An objective related to the foregoing positioning unit is to provide spring adjusting means for close control of the resistance forces exerted by the pit cushion positioning unit.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevationin partial section showing the at rest position for an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing movement of the pit cushion after the ball has impacted thereagainst;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation in partial cross section showing the pit cushion in raised positioni FIG. 4 is a side elevation showing the pit cushion positioning unit;

of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view showing attachment of the positioning unit to a pit cushion side support an; and

FIG. 7 is a cross section through a connecting rod to illustrate the adjustment and spring resisted telescoping features thereof.

FIG. is a cross-sectional elevation taken along the line 5-5 A Briefly stated, the present invention provides a mechanism for intercepting the impact forces delivered against a pit cushion by a bowling ball. The'mechanism is designed to permit pivoting movement of the pit cushion as the cushion and mechanism absorbs the ball impact forces so that the ball can be delivered directly to the ball elevating wheel of a bowling machine. The invention further incorporates an improved machine triggering mechanism which will start the recycle mechanisms of the bowling machine as soon as the ball first touches the pit cushion. A present embodiment of the invention provides an air release control for a dashpot cylinder so that the absorption of ball impact forces can be more closely regulated. The present invention further provides a pit cushion positioning unit or reset unit which serves a dual purpose in holding the pit cushion at a desired at rest position and which permits movementofthe pit cushion as the cushion is raised by operation of the bowling machine to prevent interference with other elements of the machine. Many adjustment features are provided in the total combination of mechanisms so that the cyclic operations of a bowling machine may be closely regulated to provide for the most efficient installation of such combined mechanisms.

Specific advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a description of the features illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. and described herein. Before such description, however, it should be noted, that while the features of this invention are adaptable to use in various types of bowling machines, the present description will, in general, be limited to the structural features of modified apparatus designed specifically for incorporation in existing bowling machines of the Brunswick A type. For such installations the present invention provides means for eliminating presently noted extreme shock loadings on the pit cushion mount arms. Further, in addition to-the elimination of arm breakage and other and further maintenance problems, the present combination is provided to speed the ball return time for such machines by modifying the rebound characteristics of bowling balls that hit the pitcushion.

A function of the changed mechanisms is stop, but pass, any ball engaging the pit cushion without excessive rebound of such ball into the forward regions of the pit where the necessary continued backward movement of the ball toward the ball wheel is delayed by mixed engagement with fallen pins that are gathering in the pit. Since it is desired to stop the ball with minimum rebound and since the impact characteristics of balls delivered by different bowlers are markedly varied, it was determined that a first function of the pit cushion mount mechanism should be to receive" the ball and thus absorb the inertia of the ball. From other fields it was known that the best reception for a moving ball is provided by movement of the receiver. It was further determined that the absorption of impact shock loadings that are of widely varied intensity could best be accomplished through use of components having a variable resistance characteristic that could be matched to the experienced shock range.

In satisfaction of these requirements, the applicant provides a pit cushion mount mechanism in which the pit cushion is mounted for pivotal movement in a position to intercept delivered balls. Free swinging movement of the pit cushion, however, is restricted by the use of an air cylinder or dashpot opposing backward swinging movement of said pit cushion and by a positioning unit having a spring loaded ball check detent in which the spring force is adjustable. Adjustment in the reaction force provided by the dashpot is possible through use of an air control valve that may be adjusted to increase or decrease the 1 reaction forces exerted by the dashpot mechanisms. The detailed features of an embodiment of the invention are shown in the accompanying FIGS.

In general, the present embodiment of the invention in a manner similar tothe second embodiment of the previous application. The pit cushion support arm 11 is provided with an offset leg member 56, and a'pivot bolt 57 extends downwardly to engage on offset mount 14 through use of pivot pin 58. In

order to assure more accurate placement of all the mechanisms with respect to the pit cushion 15, the offset mount 14 is formed integrally with or welded to pit cushion side plates 95. When the side plates 95 are bolted to the pit cushion 15, the dashpot support bracket 18 and an actuator mechanism support 33, which is attached to one plate 95, will be properly positioned with respect to the offset mount 14 and the curtain support 59, which are likewise permanently joined or fixed to the support plate 95.

A positioning unit mount 96 as shown in FIGS. 4, and 6 is used at one support plate 95 while the actuator mounting bracket 33 is joined to the support plate 95 at the opposite end of the pit cushion 15. Accordingly, the actuator mounting mechanism bracket 33 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 which are representative of the right side of the pit cushion as viewed from the rear of the machine, while FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are representative of the mounting at the left side of the pit cushion with the view of FIG. 4 being taken from a position corresponding with the center of the pit cushion with the pit cushion removed. In FIG. 4 it should be noted that the leg member 56 is provided with an extension 55 providing a clevis 60 for the support of the positioning unit 65. A dashpot support bracket 18 is also provided at the left support plate 95 so that dashpots 20 may be connected to the pit cushion at each end thereof. As in previous embodiments of the inventions, the dashpots 20 are operatively positioned between such brackets 18 and a support 19 disposed on a rear wall of a bowling machine assembly. Pins 16 and 17 allow pivotal movement of the dashpot ends with respect to the support 19 or the pit cushion 15.

, As an improvement over previous embodiments, the dashpots 20 are provided with; an air control valve 25 having a threaded adjusting stem so that the size of the air escape orifice within the valve 25 may be changed ifit is desirable to adjust the reaction characteristics of the air cylinder 20. With the assembly as described the pit cushion will normally be disposed in dependent relationship for swinging movement about the pivot pin 58. With the proper balance and weight of the elements, the pit cushion 15 will be held in an at rest position which is inclined to the horizontal at an angle of approximately 45 to 70. This angular inclination again tends to direct the course of any rebounded ball downwardly into the pit rather than forwardly to the front of the pit and toward the bowler.

In the present embodiment of the invention the pit cushion is not free to swing pivotally about its supporting pivot pin 58. The swinging movement is resisted by the dashpot 20, but it is further resisted by the positioning unit 65 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As there illustrated, the positioning unit 65 includes a ball check detent mechanism. When the cushion is in the at rest position, the detent rod 41 which moves reciprocally within the barrel 37 is prevented from telescoping completely into the tube 42 by the check ball 43 which is urged against a flattened surface 52 of the detent rod 41 by the pressure exerted by spring 44. Without the exertion of a force sufficient to overcome the spring force 44, the check ball 43 will prevent movement of detent 45 past the ball 43. When the unit is properly installed between its supporting clevis 60 and positioning unit support 96, limited movement of the cushion support plate 95 and cushion would be possible as the ball moves along the flattened surfaces 52 of detent rod 41. The detent 45, however, is purposely positioned so that the pit cushion 15 cannot be pivoted upwardly past a position where the lower edge of the pit cushion would intercept any bowling ball delivered against the pit cushion or merely received in the pit on the shaker rug.

The force exerted by the spring 44 can be adjusted by movement of the adjusting plug 53 to regulate the reaction force that must be exerted against the pit cushion in order to allow movement of the detent 45 past the check ball 43. Usually the plug 53 is adjusted so that a relatively minor force will be adequate to telescope the detent rod 41 to a position where the detent 45 has passed the check ball 43. The movement ofa bowling ball against the pit cushion due to the action of the shaker rug disposed in the pit of the bowling machine should be adequate to overcome'the spring loaded detent, since it would be entirely possible for a bowling ball to be delivered into the pit without slamming against the pit cushion. As soon as such force has been directed against the pit cushion, the detent 45 will snap past the check ball 43, and the pit cushion will be held in a retracted position so that the ball could immediately move past the cushion and into the ball elevating wheel.

The same movement of the pit cushion which will activate the ball detent of the positioning unit will also be transmitted to the actuator mechanisms of the bowling machine to initiate the recycle functions of the machine. An improved triggering mechanism for transmission of this machine actuating force is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7. The present improved actuator mechanism is again designed to transmit movement of the pit cushion to an actuator lever 51, which is a component of the original Brunswick A type machines. A support 69 is attached to the transmission housing 68 of such machines, and an arm 71 extends upwardly to provide a fulcrum 72 for a lever arm 66. One end of said lever arm is connected to a Uniball 46, and the other end is connected by a pin 67 to a connecting rod 64. The lower end of the connecting rod 64 is connected to actuator mounting bracket 33 on one of the side plates 95. Clevises 62 and 63 at the top and bottom ends of connecting rod 64 are joined to telescoping rods 38 and 36, respectively. These telescoping rods are received within the barrel 37 of the connecting rod assembly 64 and ordinarily can be moved reciprocally therein. As shown in FIG. 7 the position of adjusting rod 38 can be held in desired position with respect to the barrel 37 by tightening the lock pin 35 in the collar 40. Reciprocal movement of adjusting rod 36 is resisted or energized by the spring 41. The initial tension or resistance to contraction or extension of the spring 41 should always be sufficient so that the movement of mounting bracket 33 will result in a corresponding movement of the free end pin 67 of the lever arm 66, while the compression force of the spring is such that it may be overcome by any upward movement of the pit cushion so that the rod 36 will be telescoped within the barrel 37 to prevent damage to the lever arm 66 that supports the actuator levers 51.

The telescoping function of the connecting rod 64 and the ball detent operation of the positioning unit 65 permit the required upward movement of the pit cushion and its support arms 11 when the cyclic operations of the bowling machine have been initiated by movement of the actuator lever 51. The movement which initiates such cycle operation of the mechanism is accomplished when a bowling ball is moved against the pit cushion 15. Contact between the ball and pit cushion will move the free end of the cushion upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 2. As the free end moves upwardly, the mounting bracket 33 will be rotated about the pivot 58 to move the Uniball 46 on lever arm 66 upwardly. A stop pin 76 extending laterally from the lever arm 66 will be moved away from the arm 71. At the same time the push rod 47 will exert a force against the Uniball 48 to rotate the actuator lever 51 to the position illustrated. This movement of the actuator 51 engages clutches of the bowling pin mechanism so that the support arms 11 will be raised. On upward movement of the support arms 11 the lever arm 66 will be rotated in the reverse direction to its at rest position with stop pin 76 against the arm 71 and the push rod moved reciprocally away from the Uniball 48. With further movement of the lever arm 66 being blocked by the stop pin 76, the rod 36 will be telescoped within the barrel 37 of connecting rod 64. As the cushion moves upwardly, the air cylinder 20 will be further contracted in length until the stop collar 23 is engaged against the barrel of the air cylinder 20 as shown in FIG. 3. Even in its shortened length the cylinder 20 causes interference between the supports 19 and 18. Accordingly, as the cushion comes to an otherwise in terfering position, the positioning unit 65 will be returned or reset to the position as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 due to such interference. With this extensioning of the detent rod 41 of the positioning unit 65 the interference of the dashpot 20 will be relieved and'the support arms 11 and cushion 15 may be moved to their fully retracted position so that the pit may be cleared of bowling balls and pins. When the support arms and pit cushion are again lowered, all elements will again be placed in the at rest position as illustrated in FIG. 1. in some instances the normal cushion lowering operations of the original bowling machine installation is slow enough so that adequate air can be introduced into the air cylinder through the control valve 25 and past the barrel and piston to prevent recollapse of the positioning unit due to vacuum forces within the air cylinder. While close tolerances are maintained in the diameters for the piston and barrel for the air cylinder 20, an auxiliary air check valve 22 may be used to admit air into the dashpot as the pit cushion is being lowered. Such check valve is, of course, set to block anoutward flow of air from the dashpot when impact forces are directed against the pit cushion.

For proper dashpot operation the air cylinder should be of a proper size with regulated clearances between the piston and barrel. With an installation of proper design and regulated piston and barrel clearances, cooperative adjustments of the air valve 25 and of the adjustment plug 53 can be made to obtain a desired impact force absorption characteristic. This balanced adjustment can be obtained without preventing collapse of the positioning unit whenever a ball is moved lightly against the cushion solely by shaker rug forces.

As in previous embodiments of the invention, the adjust-' ment provided by the bolt 57 on support arm 11 can be used to properly adjust the positioning of the cushion in the bowling machine pit. Once this adjustment has been made the effective lengthof the connecting rod 64 can be adjusted by reciprocally positioning the rod 38 and the barrel 37 so that proper operation of the actuator leverwill be assured at the same time that the initial forces acting on the spring 41 within the connecting rod 64 are adjusted to serve the multiple uses of such spring. Once these installation adjustments have been made, the operation of the installation can be checked in actual usage to obtain proper adjustments and balance for the air control valve, the check valve and the positioning unit adjusting nut.

The present embodiment of the invention represents improvements over the previous embodiments as presented in the mentioned earlier application. The greater flexibility of the new unit permits more efficient and effective installation and improved operation.

lclaim:

1. ln bowling machines which include a general frame structure, machine drive elements, support arms interconnected to said drive elements for holding a pit cushion in lowered operative position across the rear of the pit for the interception of bowling balls and alternately in a raised out of the way position and a machine actuator mechanism for initiation of the cyclic operations of the machine, an improved pit cushion mount and actuator mechanism comprising pivot elements disposed on said support arms, a pit cushion for engagement with said pivot elements whereby said pivot elements are coactive between said support arms and pit cushion permitting pivoting movement of said pit cushion, a multielement actuator rod pivotally secured to said pit cushion at a position away from the pivot elements for said pit cushion, said rod being inclusive of at least two elements that are movable one with respect to the other, a resilient member for operatively transmitting forces between the said movable elements of said rod, said actuator rod extending upwardly within the bowling machine structure from said pit cushion for transmitting initial ball energized movement of said pit cushion to an elevated position, a linkage mechanism at the upper end of said actuator rod interconnecting said upper end and the machine actuator mechanism wherebyinitial movement of said pit cushion initiates the cyclic operations of the machine to sequentially elevate the support arms and pit cushion to the raised out of way position, said resilient member further providing rod length compensation for changes in the distance between said pit cushion and the machine actuator mechanism as the support arms and pit cushion are raised.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator rod includes telescoping elements with said resilient member operatively disposed therebetween 3. Structure as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising separate length adjusting means for said actuator rod to permit adjustment of said components for the proper operation of bowling machines having varied installation characteristics.

4. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient member is operatively interconnected to said movable elements for resisting extending and/or contracting changes in the effective length of said actuator rod to transmit forces exerted against the pit cushion end thereof to said push rod.

5. Structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said resilient member is compressed to effectively shorten said actuator rod as the pit cushion and support arms are raised.

6. Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a pit cushion positioning unit operatively disposed between said support arms and the pit cushion for limiting pivotal movements of said pit cushion about said pivot elements.

7. Structure as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising a resilient catch element on said positioning unit for holding said unit in collapsed and extended relation.

8. Structure as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising adjustment means for changing the force exerted by said resilient catch whereby ball impact forces exerted against said pit cushion will tend to collapse said unit.

9. Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a pivot support on elements of said machine and disposed away from said pivot elements and pit cushion,a pivot bracket on said pit cushion disposed away from said pivot elements, and a dashpot pivotally mounted between said'pivot support andbracket for resisting rearward swinging movement of said pit cushion when bowling balls are impacted against the front of said pit cushion, said dashpot permitting relatively easy extension of the dashpot whereby forward movement of said pit cushion at least to a vertical position and movement to the raised out of way position above said pit is relatively unimpeded.

10. Structure as set forth in claim 9 wherein the operative clearances between said elements would prevent said support arms from being raised for some positionings of said elements and further comprising a positioning unit operatively disposed between said support arms and pit cushion to permit movement of said elements to an interference clearing position for the proper operation of said mechanism. 

